Controlling mechanism



' Oct. 27,1925- E. s. GIBSON CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 20, 192

LFTT F n-WQQ Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL S. GIBSON, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INcoRyoRATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Application filed September 20, 1923. Serial No. 663,747.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL S. GIBsoN, a

A feature of the invention is the provision, in a system where selective switches extend connections over trunks to operators positions, of amulti-contact relay device controlled by the operator for rendering a group of said trunks non-selectable to the switches. I

A further feature relates to the provision of means whereby the trunks are rendered non-selectable to the switches only at such times as the switches are attempting to make connections to said trunks.

.Such other and further features as are contemplated by this invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description and also from the annexed claims. 1 v

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a portion of an automatic selective switch 100 constructed andarra'ngedto operate on the coordinate principle. This switch consists of a plurality of horizontal link circuits 108,109, 110, 111 and 112, which serve to interconnect incoming trunks and outgoing trunks. A plurality of incoming trunks, of which two, 10 1 and 105, are illustrated, terminate in the switch in vertical rows of contacts, such as rows 114 and 113. Each trunk in turn is arranged to make connection with any one ofthe horizontal links. The switch also contains a plurality of vertical rows of-outgoingtrunks, two of which, 115 and 116, are shown. The row 115 includes a group of trunks 106, which lead to a distant manual oifice and appear at an operators position 132. The row 116 likewise includes another 1 group of trunks trunk has access to only one of the horizon tal link circuits. A convenient manner of dividing the outgoing trunks into numerical groups for selective purposes is to assign each group to either a whole or a portion of a vertical row of contacts in the switch 100.

For operating. the selective switch 100 there are provided a plurality of vertical operating rods, one for each vertical row of contacts, and which are actuated by means of vertical magnets 117, 118, 119, 120. Furthermore, there are provided a plurality of horizontal operating rods, one for each of the horizontal link circuits and arranged to be actuated respectively by means of the operating magnets 121,122, 123, etc.

For a more,detaileddescription of the construction and operation of a switch of this character, reference'is made'to the patentto S, B. Williams, No. 1,517,331, grant-ed December 2,1924.

' For controlling the selective operation of the switch there is provided a marking and controlling mechanism 101. The controlling mechanism 101 is arranged to be associated with the various groups of trunks 106, 107, etc. by means of a multi contact' relay connectingdevice 102. The device 102 consists of a plurality of inulti-contact relays 140, 141 and 142, each of which is individual to a separate group of. trunks. When one of these relays is operated it associates the relays 136, 137, 138, 139, etcaw'ith the respective trunks of the corresponding group.

' It frequently happens that the operator at the distant manual ofiice wishes to leave her position or for some other reason it becomes desirable to cause a cessation of traflic over ing non-selectable trunks 107. These keys when manipulated render a multi-contact relay device effective to apply busy conditions to the sleeve conductors of all trunk-s in the group concerned.

Assume, for example, that the operator at position 132 desires to render the group of trunks 106 including trunks 124, 125 and 12-7 non-selectable to the switch 100 and to other switches in which these trunk-s may appear. To do this she depresses the make busy key 13 1. Key 13% places ground on the cable conductor 1&9, causing the operation of the relay 1% at the distant mechanical oflice.

The next time a call is extended over one of the incoming trunks 104, 105, etc, and intended for one of the outgoing trunks in group 106, re ay 14% being energized, causes the operation of the multi-contact relay 147 individual to the group of trunks 106. Since a call has been extended to the switch 100, a relay 141 is operated for the purpose associating the controlling mechanism 101 with the switch 100 and with the trunks 106 for the purpose of testing the same. When relay 1%1 operates, a circuit is closed from battery through the winding of multncontact relay 147, contact of relay 1&4, conductor 150, contact of relay 141 to ground. Helay 147 then operates and through its contacts extends ground potential over the conductors 1.51, 152, 153 and 1, to the sleeve conductors of the respective trunks 124, 126 and 127 of the group 106. Since the test conductors of the several trunks are grounded, the respectivetest relays 136, 137, 13-8 and 139 in the controllingdevic'e will. be energized to indicate to such device that a11- trunks in the tested group are busy and no connection can be extended over the trunk group 106. The circuit for the relay 136 ,iay be traced from battery through the right hand winding of said relay, contact of relay 141-1, conductor 155, to the groundedsleeve'conductor of the trunk 124. The circuit for relay 137 may be traced't'rom battery through its right hand winding, con tact of relay 1451, conductor 156 to the grounded sleeve conductor of the trunk 125. In a similar manner circuits may be traced for the other test relays in the controlling mechanism.

In the manner above explained, an artificial busy condition is placed upon the group of trunks 106 to render them non-selectable to the switch 100 during the interval in which it is attempting to make connection with one of said trunks. As soon as the 'cntrolling mechanism finds that no connection can be extended over the group 106 it may control the selection 01 a trunk in some other group leading to an answering operators position.v The release of relay 1 11 causes-the release jot multi-contact relay 14.7

and the ground potential is removed from the test conductors of respective trunks of the group 106.

Should another call appear on'the switch 100 for one of the trunks in group 106, the relay 141 in operating causes relay 1&7 to operate as long as relay 1 141 is maintained energizedand the artificial busy condition is replaced. on the trunks of the group 106 to render them non-selectable to the switch 100. hen the operator at position 132 wishes to receive calls'over the group 106', she again releases the key 134:, causing the release of relay 1 H.

In a manner similar to that already described, any of the remaining groups of trunks, such as the group 107 may be ren dered non-selectable to the switch 100 by the depression of the corresponding key at the operators position and the operation of th proper relay 143, 1 1-5, etc.

For a more complete explanation of the manner in which the switches 100 are operated under the control of the controlling and testing mechanism 101, reference is made to the patent to S. 13'. Williams, No. 1,517,553

granted' December 2, 192 1.

hat is claimed is:

1. In combination, a group of trunks, an automatic switch for selecting sa id trunks,- a controlling device for controlling the selec the operation or said switch, a nrirlti-cbn; tact relay having a contact for each or said trunks, manual means,-and meanscontrolled jointly by said device and by said manual means for operating said relay to place a busy condition upon each of said'trun-ks.

2. In combination, a group of trunks, an automatic switch for extending connections over said trunks, a control device for selectively controlling said switch, said trunks arranged to be selectable by the absence o't electrical conditions thereon, a relay device having an individual contact for each 01' said trunks, manual means, and means controlled jointly by said control device and said manual means for operating said relay device to-extend ground potential through said contacts to each of said trunks for rendering'the same non-selectable to the switch.

3. In combination, a selective switch, a group of trunks appearing in said switch, a controlling device, means for associating said device with said switch for controlling the selective operation thereof to extend a connection over one of said trunks and for thereupon dis-associating said device from the switch, and means responsive to said device for rendering said trunks busy during the time said device is associated with the switch.

4. In combination, an automatic switch, a control device for selectively controlling said switch, operators positions, aplurality of groups of trunks extending from said switch to said positions and arranged to be selected by said switch,-a plurality of multicontact relays, one for each group of'trunks, each relay having an individual contact for each of the corresponding trunks, keys at the operators positions, and means con trolled jointly by said device and by said keys for selectively operating said relays to apply an electrical condition to each of the corresponding trunks and render the same non-selectable to said switch.

5. In combination, a group of trunks, an'

automatic switch for selecting said trunks, a controlling mechanism for testing said trunks, a multi-contact relay, means for operating said relay for rendering such trunks non-selectable whenever a test of said trunks is about to be made. I 6. In combination, a plurality of groups trunks to ascertain an idle one, and means responsive to said testing mechanism whenever the same is about to perform a test of such trunks for rendering said trunks busy. 8.111 combination, a'selective switch, a group of trunks appearing in said switch, a controlling device, means for connecting said device to said switch for controlling the selective operation thereof to extend a connection over an idle one of said trunks and for thereupon disassociating said device from the switch, and means responsive to said device whenever it is about to beconnected to said switch for rendering said trunks busy and for maintaining said trunks busy during the time said device remains connected to said switch.

. 9. In combination, a selective switch, an

operators position, a group of trunks appearing in said switch and leading to said position, a switch controlling and testing device, means for connecting said device to said trunks for the purposev of making a simultaneous test of said trunks to determine an idle one for the establishment of a con nection through said switch, and means controlled from the operators position for placing a busy condition on all of said trunks during the time said testing device is connected, thereto.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of September A. D.,

EARL s. GIBSON. 

